Alexander visited Llanwenarth House in Govilon, Monmouthshire in 1848, and according to this claim, the hymn refers to the nearby Sugar Loaf or the Blorenge mountains, and to the River Usk. In this book lurk Blossom, the cow who came home; Oscar the cat-about-town; Debbie the Christmas cat; and Jingo and Skipper, best friends. Herriot and Siegfried try, but they cannot bring themselves to tell the pharmaceutical rep that the product performed so badly. Herriot remembers, in this chapter, a time when tuberculosis was common in their area back in Darrowby, and the veterinarians had to check many herds of cattle.

The veterinary facilities are not what he is accustomed to, and when a Golden Retriever comes in with a severed leg, Herriot has no idea how to treat the dog.Material from his books has also been adapted as a film, All Creatures Great and Small (1975), as a television series of the same name in 1978 and another in 2020.

Another popular tune is Royal Oak, adapted from a 17th-century English folk tune, "The 29th of May". Each chapter starts in the military with James becoming accustomed to what is undeniably a bleak life. The real-time verve of James’ innocence and growing into his practice, however, has been interrupted by the “memories” narrative, caused by the shadow of war and the hardship of separation and rejection.

All Things Bright and Beautiful" is an Anglican hymn, also sung in many other Christian denominations. James takes his frustration out on Shep, not allowing him to scare him, but later sees that Shep is still himself, scaring a local tinker. Readers adored James Herriot's tales of his life as a Yorkshire animal doctor in All Creatures Great and Small and All Things Bright and Beautiful. I felt a kinship with him and his magical world, and marveled at his talent for drawing me into his cast of characters. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.